"Heinlein, Robert A- The Cat Who Walks Through Walls" - читать интересную книгу автора (Heinlein Robert A)

The Cat Who Walked Through Walls
by Robert Heinlein
BOOK one-Indifferent Honest

I
"Whatever you do, you'll regret it."
ALLAN McLEOD GRAY 1905-1975
"We need you to kill a man."
This stranger glanced nervously around us. I feel that a crowded
restaurant is no place for such talk, as a high noise level gives only
limited privacy.
I shook my head. "I'm not an assassin. Killing is more of a hobby
with me. Have you had dinner?"
"I'm not here to eat. Just let me-"
"Oh, come now. I insist." He had annoyed me by interrupting an
evening with a delightful lady; I was paying him back in kind. It does
not do to encourage bad manners; one should retaliate, urbanely but
firmly.
That lady, Gwen Novak, had expressed a wish to spend a penny and
had left the table, whereupon Herr Nameless had materialized and sat
down uninvited. I had been about to tell him to leave when he
mentioned a name. Walker Evans.
There is no "Walker Evans."
Instead, that name is or should be a message from one of six
people, five men, one woman, a code to remind me of a debt. It is
conceivable that an installment payment on that ancient debt could
require me to kill someone-possible but unlikely.
But it was not conceivable that I would kill at the behest of a
stranger merely because he invoked that name.
While I felt obliged to listen, I did not intend to let him ruin
my evening. Since he was sitting at my table, he could bloody well
behave like an invited guest. "Sir, if you don't want a full dinner,
try the after-theater suggestions. The lapin ragout on toast may be
rat rather than rabbit but this chef makes it taste like ambrosia."
"But I don't want-"
"Please." I looked up, caught my waiter's eye. "Morris."
Morris was at my elbow at once. "Three orders of lapin ragout,
please. Moms, and ask Hans to select a dry white wine for me."
"Yes, Dr. Ames."
"Don't serve until the lady returns, if you please."
"Certainly, sir."
I waited until the waiter had moved away. "My guest will be
returning soon. You have a brief time to explain yourself in private.
Please start by telling me your name."
"My name isn't important. I-"
"Come, sir! Your name. Please."
"I was told simply to say 'Walker Evans.'"
"Good as far as it goes. But your name is not Walker Evans and I
do not traffic with a man who won't give his name. Tell me who you
are, and it would be well to have an ID that matches your words."